Trial starts for Audrain Co. man accused of wife’s death

Jury selection started Monday in Warren County in the trial for an Audrain Co. man accused of killing his wife.

Ricky Harding, of Mexico, is charged with second degree murder, armed criminal action, domestic assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm in the death of Summer Hickman in May 2014.

Harding is accused of shooting his wife at their home on Audrain Road 923 during an argument and dragging her into the garage before leaving the scene.

Harding told ABC 17 News in an interview last year that the shooting was an accident.

He is also charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child since children were home at the time of Hickman’s death.

In court on Monday, the judge dismissed Harding’s motion to fire his attorney after he claimed they were not adequately representing them.